Helen Thomas, who I used to consider a close friend and who I used to respect, has showed herself to be an anti-Semitic bigot, this is not about her disagreement about her criticisms of Israel. She has a right to criticize Israel and that is not the same as being an anti-Semite.

...

If she had asked all Blacks to go back to Africa, what would White House Correspondents Association position be as to whether she deserved White House press room credentials - much less a privileged honorary seat?

Thomas tried to walk her explosive statement caught on videotape back with this statement...

I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians.They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.

But that hasn't quieted the firestorm. Abe Foxman of the Anti Defamation League responded like this.

Helen Thomas’s statement of regret does not go far enough. Her remarks were outrageous, offensive and inappropriate, especially since she uttered them on a day the White House had set aside to celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of American Jews during Jewish America Heritage Month.

Her suggestion that Israelis should go back to Poland and Germany is bigoted and shows a profound ignorance of history. We believe Thomas needs to make a more forceful and sincere apology for the pain her remarks have caused.

So far, Thomas' employers, the Hearst Newspapers, have been silent but that won't last long.

UPDATE: The Hearst Newspapers have just announced that Helen Thomas is retiring.